England's winter of cricket 2024/25

First topic message reminder :

The squad for the tour of Pakistan has just been announced...Stokes and Crawley are back, with Dan Lawrence dropped. There are also recalls for Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach, with Brydon Carse getting a tour also.

Full squad (likely XI then others);

Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett
Ollie Pope
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes
Jamie Smith (wk)
Gus Atkinson
Olly Stone
Jack Leach
Shoaib Bashir

Reserves:
Jordan Cox
Brydon Carse
Rehan Ahmed
Chris Woakes
Josh Hull
Matthew Potts

Will MacPherson noting they see Tom Hartley as more suited for the true turning wickets of SL/India/Bangladesh, hence his omission. Tests likely to be played at Rawalpindi, Multan, Rawalpindi. (Two Pindi tests...fun).

Extra seamers suggest Stokes might not be fit to bowl?

Did they do it second innings at the gabba when Strauss Cook and Trott batted forever?

VTR wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Believe this is now the first time England have had two bats 200* or more at the crease at the same time in test cricket

When did they last have two in the same innings? Can't recall it happening since I've been watching

https://www.howstat.com/Cricket/statistics/Matches/MatchTwoDoubleCenturiesInnings.asp

Gatting and Fowler apparently, 1985, the only time England have done it (until now!).

Been out and missed most of this mornings runfest...not surprised to see Brook joining Root with a double (Root was always going to get 200 on this ) A remarkable scorecard (Pope's duck looking bizarre) ; but I do fear this pitch may be just too dead for a result ? Maybe Pakistan will collapse under the dual weights of scoreboard pressure and weariness but I'd have liked to see just a little sign of help for the bowlers... Originally I fancied getting them in again some time in the middle session - which still might work ; but as it looks so flat I won't blame England if they choose to continue the agony until very late in the day and hope to bowl them out tomorrow without needing to bat again. Really don't like pitches like this so hope the other two games are a bit more "normal "

Flat pitch or not, England's scoring rate in this and many other recent matches has been phenomenal.

You work out what would be a reasonable score in any one session and then see England exceed this by around 50-60 runs. We've just had 166 runs in the pre-lunch session and I seem to recall there were some monster sessions in Pakistan by England a couple of years ago.

This is the highest England stand since the Stokes-Bairstow effort in Cape Town where there was also an incredible pre-lunch spree.

I would hope for better pitches, but it's been like this since Australia's visit in March 2022. A run of 11 tests now.

ICC don't come in with any proper punishment. PCB don't care about not winning and very low crowds. And the second test will be played at this ground as well.

I was pleased when Pakistan were able to host tests again, but now I think it should go back to the UAE.

alfie wrote:Been out and missed most of this mornings runfest...not surprised to see Brook joining Root with a double (Root was always going to get 200 on this ) A remarkable scorecard (Pope's duck looking bizarre) ; but I do fear this pitch may be just too dead for a result ? Maybe Pakistan will collapse under the dual weights of scoreboard pressure and weariness but I'd have liked to see just a little sign of help for the bowlers... Originally I fancied getting them in again some time in the middle session - which still might work ; but as it looks so flat I won't blame England if they choose to continue the agony until very late in the day and hope to bowl them out tomorrow without needing to bat again.  Really don't like pitches like this so hope the other two games are a bit more "normal "

There has been some turn for Salman, and the odd one keeping a little low for the seamers - still a great batting wicket, but I'd fancy Leach/Bashir might be able to get something out of it next time round.

As much as anything it just feels rude to have smith sat in pads for a day then send him out to keep

Incredible feat of fitness and endurance this - Root's only scored 68 of his runs in boundaries!

Brook certainly playing a few more shots since lunch. Gets to 250 with a boundary. Nearly caught up with Root!

Smith waiting to bat.

Root's knock ends at 262.

Walked in at 4/1, leaves at 703/4.

Duty281 wrote:Root's knock ends at 262.

Walked in at 4/1, leaves at 703/4.

Decent effort that eh.

Highest ever partnership by a touring side in a test, highest ever for the 4th wicket and 4th highest of all time (that Sanga/Jayawardene one is never being toppled!).

Pleasure to witness

Think Root might not be unduly sorry to have got out then...much as he loves scoring runs he must have been a bit weary by then ! Plus after seeing that one keep low he might fancy a bowl tomorrow Imagine Smith will have a licence to go hard : wonder what the declaration target will be ?

Now England's 3rd highest test score of all time, and highest since 1938.

Will England declare when/if Brook gets to the triple? Or go for 800?

The aim from here should be 850 in double quick time, lead of near on 300 and the best part of four sessions to bowl them out.

Wheels have fully come off for Pakistan now.

300 up for Brook. Brian starting to get twitchy?

300!

First one in tests for nearly six years. First one for England since 1990. First one for England overseas since 1933.

As long as Brook and Smith are bashing them around might as well bat on. Probably don't want the bowlers doing too much with the bat as they might have some hard work to do with the ball. Lead is over 200 already so sufficient anyway ...if they can bowl Pakistan out at all in three and a half sessions or so they can win either way. That was a great attempted catch on the boundary after all these fielders have suffered , by the way ! Brook 300...take a bow...

In line with my post late last night, I would be eyeing the clock more than the scoreboard for a declaration. Pakistan are shot. Shoot them some more before pulling the plug.
Although I think England will do it earlier, I would declare to give them 90 minutes tonight. More time doesn’t always get you more time.

Fantastic from Brook who fully merits the plaudits for his 300 but also owes some gratitude to Root who started the onslaught.

guildfordbat wrote:In line with my post late last night, I would be eyeing the clock more than the scoreboard for a declaration. Pakistan are shot. Shoot them some more before pulling the plug.
Although I think England will do it earlier, I would declare to give them 90 minutes tonight. More time doesn’t always get you more time.

Guildford - I wonder if this might be a rare occasion its worth declaring during an interval, to save the two overs lost for change of innings? We're going to need every over possible.

Smiths fun is over. Woakes might fancy a bit of a bash after toiling on this pitch

GSC wrote:300 up for Brook. Brian starting to get twitchy?

I probably couldn't bring myself to declare while Brook is still unbeaten and fewer than 100 runs from a world record.

Exhaustion might get him soon, mind.

Way this pitch has gone think it's probably less time and more if the Pakistan top order will crumble. If they don't, probably be calling off the dogs at some point tomorrow and saving some legs for the second test. If they do then there's plenty of time

Pakistan are certainly shot. Which in a way suggests it would be better to get them in earlier rather than later to take full advantage of their low morale and high fatigue , no ? Smith gone now so it may be a declaration isn't far off...Consider over drinks.

Duty281 wrote:

GSC wrote:300 up for Brook. Brian starting to get twitchy?

I probably couldn't bring myself to declare while Brook is still unbeaten and fewer than 100 runs from a world record.

Exhaustion might get him soon, mind.

Doing a lot less running now. 31 boundaries to Roots 17.

Duty281 wrote:

GSC wrote:300 up for Brook. Brian starting to get twitchy?

I probably couldn't bring myself to declare while Brook is still unbeaten and fewer than 100 runs from a world record.

Exhaustion might get him soon, mind.

Need to make sure we don't leave Brook stranded...

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:In line with my post late last night, I would be eyeing the clock more than the scoreboard for a declaration. Pakistan are shot. Shoot them some more before pulling the plug.
Although I think England will do it earlier, I would declare to give them 90 minutes tonight. More time doesn’t always get you more time.

Guildford - I wonder if this might be a rare occasion its worth declaring during an interval, to save the two overs lost for change of innings? We're going to need every over possible.

Not for me, Olly. Don’t give the openers time for a shower and a cup of that tea they keep advertising! Pull the plug when they don’t particularly expect it and then get ‘em out there.

No guarantees of course that it will work but that would be my approach.

A quick Bazball comment - while England haven't gone crazy, they've scored at well over 5 an over, and are 235 runs ahead of Pakistan in 3 overs less than Pakistan faced.

It was the only way they have any chance of forcing a result on this pitch.

791/5 off 146 overs. That’s still 3 less overs than we bowled in Pakistan’s first dig. Puts our bowling into context and shows we didn’t do too badly.

dummy_half wrote:A quick Bazball comment - while England haven't gone crazy, they've scored at well over 5 an over, and are 235 runs ahead of Pakistan in 3 overs less than Pakistan faced.

It was the only way they have any chance of forcing a result on this pitch.

Brilliant minds! Ok, same ones anyway.

It ends for 317.

Stupendous effort in that heat.

England batting on. 797/6. Currently the fourth highest score in test history. Lead at 241.

317...not bad

Booo

May push a declaration a bit closer then. Maybe before tea

Now a full blown collapse.

Duty281 wrote:Now a full blown collapse.

When will they ever learn...

The pitch is crumbling clearly

Probably want to give Brook time for a shower and a cup of tea before having to come out to field...but having "collapsed" to 797/7 won't be too long now.... Carse brings up the 800 in fine style !

I was expecting Root would get a 300, he deserved it to Crown a glittering career that is shining very brightly at this moment.
Unfortunately he missed and there may not be more such opportunities of an opposition totally melted on a docile pitch.
On the other hand the 3rd test is in same Multan and there might be the next opportunity again

Brook got there the pitch and collapsed opposition notwithstanding, it's still a great feat of endurance & concentration to get there and so early in one's career

I don't see how Pak can avoid an innings defeat leave aside a simple defeat here.
Cupboard-full of records formed could be fun trivia to read when someone lists them.

I've been watching cricket a long time. I don't think I've ever seen an innings like this - the only one close would be the Sangakarra - Jayawardene one, when they dug Sri Lanka out of a hole at 14-2 .

And the declaration

That's a well timed declaration , I think. Any later and they'd have taken tea...as it is , the openers will have no time to rest and will also have to make two starts...

823/7 declared. Just the fourth instance of 800 scored in tests.

Lead of 267. About 20 minutes and the full two and a half hours this evening. Should get the full 38 overs in that's left, or close to it, for today, then tomorrow will be the full 90.

About 105 overs to bowl them out, presuming Pakistan go at 3.5rpo.

The flattest of pitches or not that's a very professional job from England; set up nicely by rapid innings from Duckett and Crawley, Root and Brook then put the bowlers to the sword. As easy as it might have looked, the concentration it takes in that heat to go big big can't be understated. Important innings for Brook too in that it's the first time he's faced more than 200 balls in an innings.

Called time then. Could argue if England needed runs then Brook against an attack has given up will be the fastest option but the bowlers unlikely

Apparently some changes to the timings tomorrow because of it being Friday in an Islamic country - might run out of light after about 80 overs.

The question is really whether Pakistani heads are in the right place - their last 3 third innings scores in Test have been well under 200.

So it's either going to be a Pakistan collapse or a fairly tame draw.

dummy_half wrote:Apparently some changes to the timings tomorrow because of it being Friday in an Islamic country - might run out of light after about 80 overs.

The question is really whether Pakistani heads are in the right place - their last 3 third innings scores in Test have been well under 200.

So it's either going to be a Pakistan collapse or a fairly tame draw.

Yes, I did wonder about that. Something of that nature caused a draw in a Pak/NZ test, when otherwise a result looked very likely.

Think if England get a few by stumps tonight they'll win.

F**k me, what a ball from Woakes!

And gone first ball. This might get ugly